Moist Orange Poached Egg Cakes

This is my version of a recipe that was adapted from another version by a chef at the Auckland Heritage Hotel. It tasted amazing. I did not have a straight up muffin tin so they were not as high I think. Next time I might investigate using baking paper in the tins and making them higher. I also want to try making them with lemons, limes or grapefruit.

Ingredients

• 1 large orange
• 1/4 cup of castor sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 8 free range eggs
• 200-220g of ground almonds
• 185g of castor sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

First off you have to put the orange in a pot and cover it with cold water. This was interesting as the orange kept floating higher and higher in the pot. Eventually I gave up and just hoped for the best. Then stir in the 1/4 cup castor sugar and slowly bring it to the boil. Cover the pot and leave it to simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours, turning the orange occasionally.

See…I told you it kept floating !

Then go and have a nice glass of wine with a friend while you chat and wait for the 1 1/2 hours to pass. Or you could watch a good movie together.

I’m on the telly !!!!

Now it is time to take the orange out and let it cool. Once cooled chop the orange in to segments and get rid of any pips.

Make sure you have an audience who will cheer you on as you continue to make this masterpiece.

Please, please drop something, why don’t you !!!

Get a frypan, add water and bring it to a simmer. Add the apple cider vinegar. Now crack open three of the eggs and poach until they are just cooked. Don’t ask me what that means. I like mine a little runny still.

Then take the eggs out and allow them to cool down. If you like them a little runny like me…for God’s sake…don’t drop any. At least try not to. However, if you do stay calm. Do not let the BIG GREEN monster out. You will regret it.

Next step…have another glass of wine. Especially if you dropped one of the poached eggs.

Now we get to the serious part…preheat your oven. About 160%C. Lightly grease your muffin tin [a 12 muffin muffin tin]. Make sure the Muffin Man has left home first.

Put the ground almonds and sugar in a nice BIG bowl. Yes people, you need a BIG bowl. Take it from me who spent a lot of time wiping down benches and clothing from NOT using a BIG bowl.

Add the chopped orange segments, the remaining five eggs and the three [hopefully you still have three] poached eggs.

Turn on the beater and go for it. Do not worry if there is any heckling in the front rows.

I told you you need a BIG bowl. I am NOT kidding.

You have to beat the mixture until the mixture becomes smooth. Divide the mixture between the 12 muffin holes.

Bake for 40 minutes.

It is now time to have glass of wine number three. A bold full bodied one is recommended here.

Take a wooden skewer and test the muffins.

If it comes out clean you are done. Turn out on to a wire rack and cool. This is the time to take a rest.

This is great if you top it with one of the following.

• Thick yoghurt
• Whipped cream
• Mascarpone

Then grate either some orange peel or dark chocolate over.

Last step…pour another glass of wine and eat. And remember you are a super hero…

Now…just because this is funny…hamsters are insanely good at falling over ‘dead’, but OMG…the parrot at 50 seconds in, I nearly wet my pants laughing !!!!